March Wrap-Up

     Welcome to the end of March! Hopefully now the sun will actually come out and we won't have any more freak snow storms sandwiched between 70 degree weather days. Honestly, the weather has been like a PMSing teenage girl as of late! Sunshine and blue skies are welcome here as far as I'm concerned.

Well, enough complaining about the weather I suppose (70 degrees this upcoming week!!). What's happened on the blog this past month? Well, not much. Actually, let's face it, basically nothing. And I apologize for that. I've been so bad at keeping up with my blog that I want to smack myself sometimes. I know I've said on here a couple time that I'm going to get back in gear and this time I mean it. I've got reviews set up and everything. But I'm also going into this no pressure. I don't want to feel the need to post something every. single. day. Let's be honest, if I did that, half the stuff would be stupid or boring because I only have so much creativity! I just promise to be more active. Posting hopefully 1 book review a week and some discussion or meme posts. Honestly, I just haven't been reading as much (I blame school) which is why this blogs been virtually nonexistent. But, I have another reason for getting my rear back in gear.....

New blog design! 

Yup. A new blog design is coming to Oh, For the Love of Books thanks to the incredible Debz over at  Debz Bookshelf . I'm so excited!! Can't wait for y'all to see it :) 

So, hopefully with this fresh start and summer coming up (which means time to read) I can actually get this thing started again. Thanks so much for everyone who has continued to follow my few random posts. It means a lot! And, without further ado, here are the post over the last couple months:

Life of a blogger: Travel

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger - so much witty fun!

I'm Curious: What are your favorite book quotes?

Life of a Blogger: Introvert or Extrovert - I like to consider myself an "extroverted introvert" - An introvert, who happens to have extroverted qualities (outgoing, personable, etc.).

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas - THE FEELS!

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers - Also feels.

Defy by Sara B. Larson - Got feels. Feels of annoyance. 

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - Wanted feels. Got no feels. 

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Life of a Blogger: Travel

I've been a huge fan of Jessi over at Novel Heartbeat (what used to be Aunti Spinelli Reads) for a while now so when I saw that she started this new post I just had to join in! What a novel idea (hehehe). Okay, that was corny, but I'm proud of it. This weeks topic?

TRAVEL

Ah. Now this is my kind of topic! Me and travel go way back. As in way back to the time I was born. See, being an Army brat means traveling is my life. We would move on average every 2 years, sometimes staying in one place as little as 6 months or as long as 4 years.  I think I moved a total of about...10 times? Give or take one I may have forgotten when I was little. Point is, I travel. A lot. And I am so incredibly blessed for it. 

I've been to places most only dream of, whether it's other states or other countries. I get to meet new people, learn about new cultures, see famous works of art or buildings. It is something I've been incredibly lucky to enjoy and something I hope to continue for as long as I possibly can. 

Since I've traveled so much, I split up the list into places I've lived and places I've visited.

Lived:
Texas (3 years total, 2 moves)
Georgia (3 years total, 3 moves). 
South Carolina (2 years total, 1 move)
Virginia (2 years total, 1 move)
Kansas (1 year total, 1 move)
Hawaii (4 years total, 1 move)
Germany (3 years total, 1 move) 

Visited:
England (London)
France (Paris)
Mallorca (Island off the coast of Spain)
Austria (every Christmas)
Italy (Venice and Sanremo)
Czech Republic (Prague)
The Netherlands
Belgium
Australia (Sydney and the Gold Coast)
New Zealand (Aukland and Hobbiton!!!!)

_________________________________

AHHH just thinking about it all makes me want to move back so badly! I've been to a couple other states, but I just wanted to focus on the really unique places. Seriously, these experiences I've been given I wouldn't trade for the world. I will always cherish the memories I made and the people I met. Of course, even though I've been to so many, I want to go to so many more. *cough* Scotland, Ireland, and Greece *cough*

So where are some places y'all have been? Been anywhere I've been? Let me know in the comments below! 

All the best ♥︎

Mackenzie 

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Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School #1)
by Gail Carriger
Pages: 307
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback

Rating: 3.5/4 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is the bane of her mother's existence. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper etiquette at tea--and god forbid anyone see her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. She enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But little do Sophronia or her mother know that this is a school where ingenious young girls learn to finish, all right--but it's a different kind of finishing. Mademoiselle Geraldine's certainly trains young ladies in the finer arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but also in the other kinds of finishing: the fine arts of death, diversion, deceit, espionage, and the modern weaponries. Sophronia and her friends are going to have a rousing first year at school.

Short and Sweet:

Whimsical.
Quirky.
Eccentric.
Comical.
Droll. 

These are the words that describe the world of Etiquette & Espionage. When I first started this book, I had a vague idea of Vicotrian era, lady-like spies. And I was right. To a certain extent at least. What I didn't expect was the devil-may-care attitude. And it was wonderful.

From the very beginning you're thrown into this world as if it is utterly normal. There is no info dump, no introduction. Werewolves? Oh yeah, a part of ever-day society. Vampires? Why not? Picklemen? Sure.  And, though it was a bit off-putting, in the end I ended up loving it. Add in some steampunk goodness and you're golden.

This story follows Sophronia, a crass, mischievous, sarcastic, adventurous young woman who doesn't exactly follows the rules of propriety. As a result, her mother sends her to a finishing school, where she learns to finish all right. With classes on fainting, poisons, and the seductive art of fanning, it's like no school you've heard of but one that is thoroughly enjoyable.

This isn't some deep book with many thought-provoking ideas (though definitely some scandals!), but boy is it fun! With Sophronia's quick wit and free spirit, you're addicted from the very beginning. Her spunky nature and dry wit easily won me over and her curiosity led to many, many interesting adventures. 

In short:
Even though you're just kind of drop-kicked into this fantasy world, it's well worth it. Sophronia is an incredibly fun, adventurous, sarcastic character who won me over from the very beginning (seriously, we could be great friends). Fun adventures await!

All the best ♥︎

Mackenzie 

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